Tag Archives: August

WhereArtI Edinburgh?

Monday 10th August

Can you tell me where I have sketched?

Usually full of crowds at this time of year, do you still recognise this city location?

Leave your answer in the comment box below.

Your comment will not show up until I reveal the answer, and I will pick a random winner from all correct entries and they will go on to the ‘Winners wall’ for the month. At the end of the month one of those will be picked to receive a prize.

The prize for August is a screen printed tea towel featuring my Victoria Street illustration.

Keep an eye on my facebook and twitter feeds for clues if they are needed later today, and I will pick a winner for the Winners Wall before the end of the day.

Keep looking up and noticing the beauty in the everyday, you never know where I will be sketching next!

If you would like to buy an Edinburgh Sketcher tea towel you can find all 4 designs in my Etsy shop.

The Edinburgh Book Festival on a sunny day

BookFest2016_entrance

It’s a perfect day in Edinburgh for soaking up the atmosphere and sitting in the sunshine in Charlotte Square, currently home to the fantastic Book Festival

Between August 13th and 29th Charlotte Square at the west end of George street is transformed into the Edinburgh International Book Festival. A hive of activity which some how retains asence of calm and tranquility.

I love to browse the books on sale, sit in the sunshine and pop into the various tents and events to see what is going, and discover new and aspiring authors showing their works.

BookFest2016_storyshop

Last week I was lucky enough to pop in to The Spiegeltent when Sarah Broadley was about to take the stage and read a great piece as part of Story Shop. Now in its tenth year Story Shop gives up and coming writers in Edinburgh the chance to read short stories or chapters of their works.  It’s free and takes place every day at 3.00pm. Hosted by the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust, you can find out more about Story Shop at the link below.

See Sarah’s take on her day performing and the lead up to that day at the Story Shop on her blog HERE.

BookFest2016_square

With only a few days left I urge you to take a trip to Charlotte Square, and today is a perfect day to catch a few rays and discover a new book!

Edinburgh International Book Festival website

Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust website

Sketching the West End tours this August

ES_WEsketching1My sketching tours in Edinburgh’s beautiful West End are running twice weekly throughout August 2016.

I am a week into my sketching tours and they are going great, despite last weeks showery weather my fellow sketchers created some great work while walking around the city’s thriving shopping and business district.

Surrounded by stunning Georgian architecture and colourful shops the West End has always been a must see area for visitors to Edinburgh, and a favourite place for me to draw.

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Join me on one of my sketch tours and you will capture in detail the historical architecture, unique heritage features and charming landscape as you explore Edinburgh’s West End with a sketch book in hand, using ink and watercolour to bring your visit to life.

Under my watchful and encouraging eye you will quickly pick up sketching skills while increasing confidence in your own artistic ability as we wynd our way through cobbled streets, Georgian crescents and stylish shop fronts.

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Once you’ve filled your pages with beautiful West End images, we’ll end our tour at Strumpets on William Street where you’ll add watercolour to your sketches. Strumpets homemade cakes are a popular indulgence in the West End and they have kindly offered all tour sketchers a 10% discount on the day!

All abilities are welcome and encouraged so follow the links below to book your place. I look forward to sketching with you soon!

 

Sketching the West End – Throughout August 2016
‘Draw your way through Edinburgh’s West End’
Explore Edinburgh’s West End with a sketch book in hand, using ink and watercolour to bring your visit to life, under the guidance of Edinburgh Sketcher, Mark Kirkham.
3 hours. 1 -4pm, £28 adult, £16 child (5-15 yrs)

Wednesday 17th August  Click for more information and to book

Friday 19th August  Click for more information and to book  SOLD OUT

Wednesday 24th August  Click for more information and to book

Friday 26th August  Click for more information and to book

Friday 31st August  Click for more information and to book

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Edinburgh’s West End website

Fringe appeal

FringeRoyalMile2013I got in a perfect position to sketch this performer and his captivated audience this week, on the Royal Mile. Now in the middle of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival the street is jam packed with street acts performing, fringe acts selling their shows and tourists taking it all in.

 

I love to find a new or different angle for my sketches and as I walked through the crowds I noticed this perfectly framed scene, I love the fringe banner above and St Giles Cathedral in the background. The Royal Mile in August isn’t just a place to watch the performers, it is also great for people watching. So here is my sketch of the audience watching a guitar player, who was excellent by the way, he must of been to have such a large crowd listening so intently.

 

If you are heading up in to town this morning have a great time, and smile – you may be being sketched 🙂